Binding strap anchoring structure



April 21, 1959 G, H. METHE ETAL 2,882,837

BINDING STRAP ANCHORING STRUCTURE Filed May 6, 1957 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS.

April 21, 1959 G. H. METHE ETAL 2,882,337

BINDING STRAP ANCHORING STRUCTURE Filed May 6, 195'"! fl s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 6OR6 H. Mar: 2

DONALD K. Barre-2.50M

ATTORNEY-Z1,

April 21, 1959 I G. H. METHE EIAL 2,882,337

I BINDING STRAP ANCHORING STRUCTURE Filed May 6, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet s I INVENTORS GEORGE H. MTHE DONALD K PA rreesoy ArroeA/Eys. A

Unie States Patent BINDING STRAP ANCHORlNG STRUCTURE George H. Methe, San Leandro, and Donald K. Patterson, Hayward, Califi, assignors to L. A. Young Spring & Wire Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application May 6, 1957, Serial No. 657,426

14 Claims. (Cl. 105369) This invention relates to the loading of freight on carriers such as box cars, trucks and other vehicles and particularly to a structure for anchoring the end of a binding strap to a wall of the freight carrier by looping the end of the anchoring strap through the structure.

In transporting freight on carriers such as box cars there is a tendency for the freight to shift due to the starting and stopping movement of the carrier. In order to prevent movement of the freight within the carrier, it is customary to bind the loads by means of straps, the straps being fastened or anchored to a part of the carrier at one end and connected together at their opposite ends. The straps are made of thin metal.

It is desirable that the anchoring structure be such as to permit the strap to be applied to the freight and attached to the wall at various angles to conform to the configuration of the freight. At the same time the anchoring structure should be designed such that at all times it engages the strap in a manner to prevent the strap from tearing. It is also desirable that the anchoring structure be such that the strap will not be torn in the event that there is a slight shift of the freight causing a slack in the strap followed by the tightening of the strap when the freight again shifts.

It is an object of this invention to provide a structure for anchoring binding straps wherein there is a minimum tendency to tear the strap because of uneven force on the strap.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an anchoring structure wherein the tendency to tear the strap when the load is shifted is substantially eliminated.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an anchoring structure which is sufficiently strong to withstand the forces incident to shipping freight.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a structure wherein the strap may be fastened with a minimum of effort.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a structure which may be made at low cost.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a structure which can be easily mounted on the wall of a freight carrier.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a structure which is mounted in flush relationship to the inner wall surface of a freight carrier thereby preventing damage to the structure and providing a minimum interference with the loading of the freight carrier.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a wall of a freight carrier embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, on a greatly enlarged scale, taken along the line 2--2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of the anchoring structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 3.

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Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6--6 in Fig. 3, showing the position of the anchoring strap.

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of a portion of the anchoring structure shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is an elevational perspective view of a portion of the anchoring structure shown in Fig. 3 as viewed from one side edge thereof.

Fig. 9 is an elevational perspective view of the portion of the anchoring structure shown in Fig. 8 as viewed from the other side edge thereof.

Referring to Fig. 1, a freight carrier such as a box car 10 comprises a floor 11, end walls 12 and side walls 13. In order to prevent a load of freight L, shown in dotted lines, from shifting during movement of the carrier, straps S are anchored to the walls 13 and fastened together at 14 to restrict and restrain any movement of the freight L within the carrier. In order to anchor the ends of the straps S to walls 13, anchoring structures 15 are provided at horizontally and vertically spaced points along each side wall 13 thereby providing a plurality of points on each side wall 13 to which the ends of the loading straps S may be fastened.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the wall 13 of carrier 10 comprises a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical metal posts 16 which are Z-shaped in cross section. Wall 13 also includes an inner wall 17 which may be made of wood and an outer wall 18 which may be made of metal. Anchoring structure 15 is mounted on leg 19 of post 16 as presently described, after a hole 20 is formed in side wall 17.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 7 anchoring structure 15 includes a circular plate 21 having a peripheral flange 22 extending outwardly from one side of the plane of plate 21. Plate 21 is formed with parallel diametrically opposed slots 23, 24 which are spaced from the center of plate 21 (Figs. 3, 5 and 7). Slots 23, 24 are provided with notches 25, 26, respectively, along the innermost side edges thereof. A U-shaped clip 27 is mounted on plate 21 and includes a fiat base 28 and flat legs 29, 30 extending at right angles from base 28. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5 the free ends of legs 29, 30 engage notches 25, 26, respectively, to form a passageway through which the end of a binding strap may be looped as presently described.

A guide member 31 is pivoted to the underside of base 28 which faces plate 21 .by means of a pin 32 having a peripheral lip 33. As shown in Figs. 4, 5, 8 and 9 guide member 31 includes a substantially flat section 34 disposed adjacent the underside of base 28 and having straight side edges along which flanges 35 extend. One end 36 of the section 34 adjacent pin 32 is arcuate and the other end 37 is straight. Guide member 31 also includes flange portions 38 adjacent the pivoted end thereof diverging outwardly beyond the edge 39 of the clip 27. Flanges 35 are shaped to engage and guide strap S as it is looped around the base 28 of the clip. Each flange 35 includes a first portion 41 at right angles to section 34 and a second portion 42 at right angles to the first portion.

The side edges 39, 40 of base 28 are arcuate and have equal radii of curvature. As shown in Fig. 2 side edges 39, 40 are preferably chamfered or bevelled. The center of pin 32 lies adjacent side edge 39 substantially at the center of curvature of arcuate edge 40. The length of section 34 of the guide member 31 is less than the maximum width of base 28 of clip 27. The radius of .clip 27 and guide member 31 provide the anchoring structure. which is. mounted on post 16.. Slots 23, 24.

permit the anchoring structure to be welded to the post so that the weld metal 43 will both weld the plate 21 and clip 27 to post 16 and, in addition, weld the plate 21 and clip 27 to each other (Figs. 3 and After the anchoring structures are mounted on the wall of a freight carrier, preferably with the legs 29, 30 of clip 27 extending horizontally, a binding strap S is secured to the anchoring structures by first passing the free end thereof between diverging flange portions 38 and flanges 35 of guide member 31 and thereafter looping the freeend around base 28 and securing theloop by crimping a clamp 44 (Fig. 1) around the juxtaposed portions of the strap. After the load is positioned in the carrier and the end of another strap has been similarly secured to another anchoring structure 15, the straps are pulled around the load and the free ends thereof are joined together as at 14.

In. this arrangement, guide member 31 has an important function. Since the side wall portions 41 of guide. 31 are spaced apart a distance only slightly greater than the width of strap S, it is apparent that the strap will not be free to shift loosely between the legs 29, 30 of clip 21. Movement of the strap S on clip 27 is restricted generally to angular rotation as permitted by the pivotal movement of guide 31. Since, as pointed out previously, pin 32 is located at the center of curvature of the arcuate edge 40 of the clip, it is apparent that the longitudinal center line of guide 31 is always perpendicular to the tangent to the arcuate edge 40 at the point where the center line inersects this arcuate edge.

Thus, regardless of the pivotal position of guide 40, the looped portion of the strap S always engages the edge 40-at the portion thereof generally midway between the side edges of the strap. The strap cannot become cocked so that it engages the edge 40 along only one edge of the strap. The tension in the strap is therefore always along the center of the strap. This effectively prevents tearing or ripping of the edges of the strap. This is true regardless of the angle of the strap relative to the horizontal.

After the load has been tied down in this manner, if any shifting thereof occurs during the shipment with the resultant slacking in tension on the strap S, the guide member 31 will maintain the position of the strap to the clip 27 so that the load on the strap is at all times along the center of the strap, even if the angular disposition of the strap is varied. If the load again shifts to tighten the strap S, the force on the strap will again be distributed evenly through the center of the strap by the guide member 31 without any tendency of the strap to tear or rip along the edge thereof.

It can thus be seen that the anchoring structure is such that there is a minimum tendency to tear the strap because of uneven force on the strap either when the strap is initially fastened or when the strap is subjected to slackening and retightening due to shifting of the freight in transit. The anchoring structure is sufficiently strong to withstand the forces incident to shipping freight and yet may be made at low cost. The circular plate 21 and clip 27 may be made from flat metal stock while the guide member may be made from thin sheet metal. The anchoring structure may be easily fastened to the wall of a freight carrier, the welding operation securing the base plate and clip to the wall and to, each other.

We claim:

ll. In a, structure for anchoring the end of an anchor strap on a freight carrier, the combination comprising a U-shaped clip having a pair of spaced apart legs connected by a base portion, means mounting said U-shaped clip:-on1the.wall of a freight carrier so that the legsand base: portion. form, a passageway through which, the end of an anchor strap may be looped, said base portion having opposite edge portions defining opposite ends of said passageway, at least one of said edge portions being arcuate, the center of curvature of the arcuate edge portion lying within the base portion, a guide member pivotally mounted on said base portion within said passageway at approximately the center of curvature of said arcuate edge portion, said guide member having longitudinally extending edge portions shaped to engage the edges of the anchor strap, said guide member having a width substantially less than the width of said passageway.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide member terminates at one end adjacent and inwardly of said arcuate edge portion of said clip whereby when an anchor strap is inserted through said passageway in engagement with said guide member and looped around the base portion of said clip, a pull on said anchor strap causes the bight portion of the loop to engage said arcuate edge portion of the clip along a portion of the strap located generally centrally between the side edges of the strap at said bight portion.

3. In a structure for anchoring the end of an anchor strap on a freight carrier, the combination comprising a support, an anchor member mounted on said support and having a portion in spaced relationship thereto providing a passageway through which the end of an anchor strap may be looped, a guide member pivotally mounted in said passageway between said support and said anchor member, the lateral dimension of said passageway being greater than the width of the anchoring strap, said guide member having means formed thereon for engaging the edges of the anchor strap and thereby controlling the position of the anchor strap relative to said member, said guide member being pivotally mounted on said anchor member, said anchor member having one edge thereof defining one end of said passageway formed with a convex arc, said guide member being pivoted to said anchor member at a point generally on the longitudinal center line of said passageway and spaced from the center of said anchor member, the pivotal point of said guide member lying substantially at the center of curvature of said convex arcuate edge.

4. In a structure for anchoring the end of an anchor strap to the Wall of a freight carrier, the combination comprising a flat plate, a U-shaped clip including a base and legs extending from the ends of said base, said clip being mounted on said plate with the free ends of said legs in contact with said plate to form a passageway therebetween, a guide member pivoted to the side of said base of the clip which is adjacent the plate, and means formed on said guide member for engaging the side edges of an anchor strap looped through the passageway formed by the clip and plate, the base of said clip having an edge defining one end of said passageway which, is arcuate, said guide member being pivotally mounted to the base of said clip at a point generally on the longitudinal center line of said passageway and spaced from the cen ter of said base, the pivotal point of said guide member lying substantially at the center of curvature, of said, arcuate edge.

5. In a structure for anchoring the end of a binding strap to the wall of a freight carrier, the combination comprising a flat plate having parallel spaced slots extending therethrough, said plate having notches in the innermost side edges of said slots, a U-shaped clip having a flat base and legs extending generally at right angles from said flat base, the free ends of said legs extending into the notches of said plate and being fixed thereto, a guide member pivoted to the side of said base of the. clip which is adjacent said plate, and means formed along the edges of said guide member for engaging and guiding .a binding strap through the passageway formed by the clip and the plate, the side edges of the base of,

the clip being arcuate, the guide member being pivotally mounted to said base at a point spaced from the center of said base, the radii of curvature of said arcuate edges being equal, the pivotal point of said guide member being substantially at the center of curvature of one of said arcuate edges.

6. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said means on said guide member comprises spaced flanges extending generally laterally of said clip.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 including flange portions on said guide member extending outwardly beyond the edge of said clip.

8. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said flat plate is circular in configuration and includes a flange around the periphery thereof.

9. The combination set forth in claim wherein said guide member is provided with a curved edge at one end thereof adjacent the pivotal point of said guide member, the length of said guide member being less than the maximum width of said base of the clip, the radius of curvature of said curved edge of said guide member being less than the radius of curvature of the arcuate edges of said base of the clip.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said guide member includes flange portions diverging outwardly from the end thereof having the curved edge.

11. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said guide member terminates adjacent said convex edge of said anchor member and within the confines of said anchor member whereby when an anchor strap is looped 6 about said anchor member the entire load of said anchor strap is carried by said anchor member.

12. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said means on said guide member for engaging the edges of the anchor strap comprise flanges on said guide member extending generally longitudinally of said passageway.

13. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said guide member includes a flat section which is pivoted to the base of said clip, said flat section having substantially parallel straight edges, said means formed along the edges of the guide member for engaging and guiding a binding strap comprising flanges, the length of said flat section being less than the maximum width of said base of the clip.

14. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein the end of said flat section adjacent the pivotal point of the guide member is curved, said curved end having a lesser radius of curvature than the radius of curvature of the convex edges at the base of the clip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,733,670 Sheesley et a1. Feb. 7, 1956 2,733,671 Sheesley et a1. Feb. 7, 1956 2,770,198 Blomberg Nov. 13, 1956 2,843,060 Sladek July 15, 1958 OTHER REFERENCES Publication, Railway Locomotives and Cars, cover page, February 1957, IDS-369A. 

